Gayton McKenzie was born on 10 March 1974 and is a South African politician and businessman who is currently serving as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in the Government of National Unity since July 2024.
12 Facts About Gayton McKenzie
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In 2013, Gayton McKenzie co-founded the Patriotic Alliance political party and has since served as its president.
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Gayton McKenzie grew up in the Heidedal neighborhood of Bloemfontein, South Africa.
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Gayton McKenzie used his story of changing from a life of crime to attaining success as a businessman as the basis for his motivational talks.
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Gayton McKenzie has gone on to work as a consultant in the mining industry and runs a diversified business with interests in several sectors.
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Gayton McKenzie launched the Patriotic Alliance political party on 30 November 2013, and became the party's first president.
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In 2024 Gayton McKenzie was appointed to the position of Minister of Sports, Art and Culture.
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Gayton McKenzie promptly pledged his ministerial salary to be donated to a charity that works to recover missing children.
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In 2022, then Central Karoo District Municipality mayor, Gayton McKenzie raised R3 million for service delivery at a gala dinner fundraising event in Sandton.
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Gayton McKenzie, a convicted former criminal and 26s gang boss who was jailed for robbery for 17 years, has been alleged to have links to gang members as party leader of the Patriotic Alliance.
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In 2022, Gayton McKenzie was involved in the transfer of Eldorado Park gangster Jermaine Prim from a medium-security to a maximum-security facility; a move described as part of a gang war.
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In 2024, Gayton McKenzie was criticised for his alleged xenophobic and Opposition to immigration comments when he questioned the right of Chidimma Adetshina, who has immigrant parents, to contest the Miss South Africa contest.